5 Steps to Homework Success

Your child is at the beginning of a long-term relationship with studying -- and you're involved in it too. If you look at this as a process, one where you'll be introducing positive habits, you'll soon be on the path to more productive, peaceful, and pleasant (really!) homework sessions
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Teach Consistency

Barring schedule-busters like after-school activities, your child should try to do her homework at the same time every day. "Without a routine, it's too easy to put off," says Jeanne Shay Schumm, PhD, author of How to Help Your Child with Homework. In figuring out the optimal time, consider the family schedule and your child's temperament. Most kids need a chance to decompress after school, and many work more efficiently following physical activity. In fact, research shows that exercise can actually increase a child's concentration.

Once you've nailed the time, create a dedicated study space. Having a consistent spot helps kids switch into study mode. But forget about the conventional wisdom of a desk in your child's room. In early elementary school, it's better to set things up in a central location so you're around to help if needed. Make room on the kitchen or dining room table for him to stretch out with books and papers. And keep supplies at the ready; otherwise, you're inviting procrastination -- the number of minutes spent searching for a pencil can easily turn into hours!

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Comments
Comments (5)
4204726675
CandiW wrote:

As a parent, you want to help your kid succeed and protect him from failures. What should you do when your kid¿s struggling with his homework? Should you let him struggle? Should you let him submit homework that you know is riddled with errors? Where¿s the dividing line between helping him with his homework and virtually doing his homework for him? If...http://blog.care4hire.com/homework/287

9/28/2011 02:47:20 PM Report Abuse
constantcreati wrote:

It's very important to get kids to "own" their work. I've spent some time with my sons working through their resistance to homework, teaching them to double-check their work, helping them identify and use resources, etc. Initially I checked everything but then I systematically reduced checking and then moved to random checking. If they discussed problems with a particular subject, I monitored that subject more frequently. www.backtoschoolkids.com

8/2/2011 12:56:53 PM Report Abuse
sabanoviclejla wrote:

Great article!

8/5/2010 11:26:44 AM Report Abuse
Catalya wrote:

Okay that comment didn't make sense...sorry. This is a great recommendation from Parents. Your child will not know that it they made any mistakes with you not telling them it is one (a mistake). Your child may think they are doing it correctly OR...KNOW that you are not going to check it and purposely do it wrong b/c they feel they cannot ask you a question without feeling they are a failure or not meeting up to your expectations and just want to get it over with so they can go play/watch TV.

3/11/2010 11:04:16 AM Report Abuse
pesims1 wrote:

This is a horrible recomendation they may prefer to see the childs progress without you double checking the childs work and having them fix their mistakes but it will set your child up for future failure as teachers form opinions about children and pick and choose which ones they will show their attention to. They may try to claim differently but having gone through the school system myself and watching my children go through this is definately the case.

2/26/2010 07:34:56 AM Report Abuse
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